Sue Young, the Gambling Commission’s newly appointed Executive Director of Operations, has set out a clear regulatory agenda centred on supporting the licensed market whilst intensifying efforts against illegal gambling operators. Speaking at the KPMG Gibraltar eSummit in June, Young outlined her vision for strengthening the regulator’s enforcement capabilities and fostering innovation within the compliant sector.

A Career Shaped by Operational Delivery

Young brings significant experience from across the UK public sector to her role at the Commission. Her background includes senior positions at HM Revenue and Customs, where she managed debt operations, and the Home Office, where she served as a regional director within Border Force. That border security experience, she noted with characteristic understatement, brought her to Gibraltar previously, though “on a very different ship” than the one hosting the eSummit.

Her appointment reflects the Commission’s commitment to elevating its operational impact. She now oversees the Licensing, Compliance, Intelligence and Enforcement teams, alongside the dedicated Illegal Gambling unit. Within three months of taking the post? She was already energised by the scale of the challenge ahead.

Understanding the Illegal Market

Young’s perspective on illegal gambling draws from her experience in other criminal enforcement contexts. She identified clear parallels between unauthorised gambling operators and broader criminal enterprises: they pursue profit with minimal regulatory friction, leverage technology to operate at scale, and employ increasingly sophisticated methods to evade detection.

The challenge is significant but not insurmountable, she stressed. Illegal operators face constant pressure from blocking technologies, payment barriers, and enforcement action. Importantly, Young cautioned against sensationalism when discussing the scope of the problem. The real priority is understanding the composition and trends of the illegal market rather than circulating inflated figures about the number of rogue sites in operation.

“Being clear eyed on the challenges is the first step to dealing with them,” Young said, highlighting the Commission’s Research and Statistics team as instrumental in mapping the landscape.

Financial Risk Assessments: Clarity Needed

Young addressed one of the sector’s most pressing uncertainties: the status of Financial Risk Assessments. The Commission’s Board considered extensive evidence in May but has not yet reached final conclusions. She was careful to distinguish FRAs from affordability checks, drawing on her HMRC background to underscore that these are distinct regulatory tools with different purposes.

Whilst she declined to speculate on the Board’s timeline, her tone suggested a methodical approach designed to weigh all perspectives before announcements. Further details will follow, she confirmed, when the assessment is complete.

Supporting Innovation in Licensed Markets

Beyond enforcement and compliance, Young signalled the Commission’s commitment to enabling innovation within the licensed sector. The regulator recognises that responsible operators drive market development and consumer choice. Supporting that dynamic, rather than merely constraining it, forms part of her operational strategy for the year ahead.

Young’s arrival signals a shift towards more assertive operational leadership at the Commission, combined with a pragmatic view of the regulatory landscape. The message to the industry was clear: expect tighter scrutiny of unlicensed operators, sustained support for compliant businesses, and a regulator increasingly equipped to make nuanced, evidence-based decisions.